Dust collection device for sanding machine

ABSTRACT

A dust collection device for a sanding machine includes a casing located at the lower end of the upright sanding belt and the casing includes a bottom hole which communicates with the open top of the dust collection part. The dust collection part communicates with an exterior collection area defined within an outer cover. A fan unit an a separation plate are located within the outer cover, so that dust during operation of the sanding belt can be collected into the exterior collection area and brought out via an escape pipe connected to the outer cover. A sanding wheel is located beside the separation plate and a housing is mounted to the sanding wheel. The housing includes a restriction plate so as to guide dust during operation of the sanding wheel into the escape pipe. The sanding belt, the fan unit and the sanding wheel share a common axle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dust collection device for a sanding machine and the sanding belt, fan unit and the sanding wheel are co-rotated with a common axle so as to efficiently collect dust during work.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional sanding machine includes a support frame which has right and left frame walls opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction to confine a receiving space, and a mounting wall disposed between the frame walls and extending in the longitudinal direction. A power unit includes a motor which has an output shaft to drive an active wheel, a passive wheel and a transmission belt connected between the active and passive wheels.

A sanding member is horizontally installed and includes two parallel side panels between which two rollers are located, an emery coated belt is trained on the two rollers. An axle extends through the lower roller and driven by the motor so that the top roller is rotated. An emery coated belt is driven by the rotation of the two rollers and moves toward one direction.

When sanding a workpiece, the motor is first activated so as to drive the rollers and the emery coated belt rotates at a preset speed, the user holds the workpiece which is moved to be in contact with the emery coated belt to remove surface material of the workpiece. During operation, dust flies randomly and can cause serious health problem to the users.

The present invention intends to provide a dust collection device for a sanding machine which includes an axle which drives the sanding belt, the fan unit and the sanding wheel simultaneously, the dust is guided downward into the dust collection part and the shortcoming of the conventional sanding machine can be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sanding machine and comprises a base unit including a base which has a space and a board is mounted on an open top of the base. A frame extends upward from the board. A first slot and a second slot are defined through the board and communicate with the space. An axle extends through the frame. A sanding unit includes first and second side panels and a top roller and a lower roller are located between the first and second panels. A sanding belt is trained on the top roller and the lower roller. A casing accommodates the lower roller and a part of the sanding belt, and a bottom hole is defined through a bottom of the casing and communicates with the second slot. A guide member is located beside the bottom hole. A power unit includes a motor in the space and an active pulley which is driven by the motor, a passive pulley is driven by the active pulley by a transmission belt trained on the active and passive pulleys. The axle extends through the passive pulley and a first end of the axle is connected to the lower roller and a second end of the axle is connected to a fan unit and a sanding wheel.

A dust collection device includes a dust collection part, a hollow hose, an outer cover, the fan unit, a separation plate, the sanding wheel and a housing. The dust collection part has an open top which is located in alignment with the second slot. A tube and an outlet are located in communicating with the open top of the dust collection part. The hollow hose has a first end connected to the tube. The outer cover is connected to the base unit and the axle extends through the outer cover. A shoulder is formed on an inside of the outer cover and an air inlet is defined through the shoulder. The shoulder is located along a periphery of a concaved chamber defined in the inside of the outer cover. A main-air-outlet and a sub-air-outlet are located in communication with the concaved chamber. A second end of the hollow hose is connected with the sub-air-outlet. An escape pipe has a first end engaged with the main-air-outlet.

The axle extends through the fan unit and the separation plate is engaged with the concaved chamber. The separation plate includes a path, a guide plate, a first hole, a second hole and a suction opening, wherein the path is located in communication between the air inlet of the outer cover and the first and second holes and the suction opening. The guide plate is located beside the suction opening and a distal end of the guide plate contacts a peripheral wall of the over cover. The air inlet of the outer cover is located in communication between the outlet of the dust collection part and the path of the separation plate.

The sanding wheel is mounted to the axle and located between the separation plate and the housing. The housing has a pressing plate extending from an inside thereof so as to define an exterior collection area between the housing, the outer cover and the separation plate. A part of the sanding wheel is located within the exterior collection area.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view to show some parts in FIG. 1 of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the outer cover connected to the base and the parts within the outer cover of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows that the fan unit is connected to the outer cover of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows that the separation plate is connected to the outer cover of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows that the sanding wheel and the housing separation are connected to the outer cover of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is the bottom view to show the connection of the sanding wheel and the housing separation connected to the outer cover of the sanding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along line A-A in FIG. 7, and

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the casing with an upright guide member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, the present invention provides an improved dust collection device for a sanding machine which comprises a base unit 1 including a base 10 and a board 15 which is mounted on an open top of the base 10. A space 18 is defined in the base 10 and communicates with the open top of the base 19 and a frame 153 extends upward from the board 15. A first slot 151 and a second slot 152 are defined through the board 15 and communicate with the space 18. An axle 34 extends through the frame 153 and two ends of the axle 34 protrude from two sides of the frame 153.

A sanding unit 2 includes first and second side panels 21, 22 and a top roller 23 and a lower roller 24 are located between the first and second panels 21, 22. A sanding belt 25 is trained on the top roller 23 and the lower roller 24. A first end of the axle 34 is connected to the lower roller 24 so as to drive the top roller 25 to move the sanding belt 25 toward one direction. A casing 26 accommodates the lower roller 24 and a part of the sanding belt 25, and a bottom hole 2611 is defined through a bottom of the casing 26. The bottom hole 2611 is located in alignment with the second slot 152. A guide member 265 is located beside the bottom hole 2611 and extends inclinedly relative to a vertical plane which is not shown. A rear cover 4 is connected between a top of the base unit 1 and a lower end of the casing 26 of the sanding unit 2, the rear cover 4 includes an opening 41 which is located in alignment with the bottom hole 2611 of the casing 26 and the second slot 152 of the base unit 1. The casing 26 includes a first part 261 having a hole (not shown) and a second part 262 having another hole (not shown) so that the axle 34 extends through the two respective holes. The bottom hole 2611 is defined through the first part 261 and the guide member 265 is located on the first part 261. An end of the guide member 265 protrudes beyond the surface of the first part 261 so that the bottom hole 2611 is in alignment with the second slot 152.

A power unit 3 includes a motor 31 located in the space 18 and an active pulley 32 which is driven by an output shaft 311 of the motor 31. A passive pulley 33 is driven by the active pulley 32 by a transmission belt 35 trained on the active and passive pulleys 32, 33. The axle 34 extends through the passive pulley 33 and a second end of the axle 34 is connected to a fan unit 53 and a sanding wheel 55.

The dust collection device includes a dust collection part 50, a hollow hose 51, an outer cover 52, the fan unit 53, a separation plate 54, the sanding wheel 55 and a housing 56. The dust collection part 50 is located beneath the second slot, 152 of the base unit 1 and has an open top 501 which is located in alignment with the second slot 152. A tube 502 and an outlet 503 are located in communicating with the open top 501 of the dust collection part 50, preferably, the tube 502 and the outlet 503 are located on two ends of the dust collection part 50. The hollow hose 51 has a first end connected to the tube 502 and a second end of the hollow hose 51 is connected with an outer cover 52.

The outer cover 52 includes multiple connection tubes 520 and bolts 80 extend through the connection tubes 520 and connects the outer cover 52 to the base unit 1. The axle 34 extends through an axle hole 525 defined through the outer cover 52. A shoulder 521 is formed on an inside of the outer cover 52 and an air inlet 522 is defined through the shoulder 521 of the outer cover 52. The shoulder 521 is located along a periphery of a concaved chamber 524 defined in the inside of the outer cover 52 and includes multiple connection holes 523 for fixing the outer cover 52 to the base 10. A main-air-outlet 526, a sub-air-outlet 527 and the axle hole 525 are located in communicating with the concaved chamber 524. The second end of the hollow hose 51 mentioned above is connected with the sub-air-outlet 527 in the outer cover 52. An escape pipe 57 has a first end engaged with the main-air-outlet 526.

The fan unit 54 includes a central hole 530 and the axle 34 extends through the central hole 530. The fan unit 54 is located in the concaved chamber 524 and the separation plate 54 is engaged with the concaved chamber 524. Multiple blades 531 extend radially from a side of the fan unit 54.

The separation plate 54 includes a path 543, a guide plate 544, a first hole 545, a second hole 546 and a suction opening 547. The path 543 is located in communication between the air inlet 522 of the outer cover 52, the first and second holes 545, 546 and the suction opening 547. The guide plate 544 located beside the suction opening 547 and a distal end of the guide plate 544 contacts a peripheral wall of the over cover 52. The air inlet 522 of the outer cover 52 is located in communication between the outlet 503 of the dust collection part 50 and the path 543 of the separation place 54.

The separation plate 54 includes a rib 542 extending from a side thereof and is shaped corresponding to a shape of the concaved chamber 524. The rib 542, the path 543 and the guide plate 544 are located on different planes on the separation plate 54. A plurality of through holes 541 are defined through the separation plate 54 and bolts 81 extend through the through holes 541 and connect the separation plate 54 to the shoulder 521 of the outer cover 52 such that the rib 542 encloses the concaved chamber 524. The first hole 545 of the separation plate 4 includes two tapered insides so as to form a gradually divergent hole and the first hole 545 is larger than the second hole 546, a distal end of the first hole 545 is located at the air inlet 522. The first hole 545 of the separation plate 4 may also be larger than a cross sectional area at the conjunction between the first hole 545 and the path 543. The first hole 545 of the separation plate 4 can also be larger than the suction opening 547. By the arrangements, the distal end of the path 543 is located at the air inlet 522 and the air can enters into the concaved chamber 524 via the second hole 546, the suction opening 547, the air inlet 522, the path 543 and the first hole 545.

The sanding wheel 55 is mounted to the axle 34 and located between the separation plate 54 and the housing 56. The housing 56 includes multiple apertures 561 and bolts 82 extend through the apertures 561 to connect the housing 56 to the outer cover 52. A curved restriction plate 562 extends from a side facing the sanding wheel 55 and notches 563 are defined through the curved restriction plate 562. A pressing plate 564 extends from the inside of the housing 56 so as to define an exterior collection area 9 between the housing 56, the outer cover 52 and the separation plate 54. A part of the sanding wheel 55 is located within the exterior collection area 9 and between the separation plate 54 and the housing 56. The gap between the pressing plate 564 and the sanding wheel 55 is minimized, so as to form a resistance or pressure on the upper area and the air will be guided by the guide plate 544 and enters into the concaved chamber 524.

Before sanding a workpiece (not shown), the motor 31 is activated and the sanding belt 35 is rotated by the operation of the motor 31 via the active pulley 32, the passive pulley 33 and the axle 34, the axle 34 drives the lower roller 24, the fan unit 53 and the sanding wheel 55. The fan unit 53 is located within the enclosed concaved chamber 524 enclosed by the outer cover 52 and the separation plate 54, so that the maximum pressure generated by the fan unit 53 enters into the main-air-outlet 526 and the sub-air-outlet 527, and the air then flows out from the base unit 1 via the escape pipe 57. The air that does not enter into the main-air-outlet 526 and brought out from the escape pipe 57 enters into the sub-air-outlet 527 and the tube 502 via the hollow hose 51 and the dust collection part 50. The air flows toward the outlet 503 and enters into air inlet 522 of the outer cover 52. The air flows into the air inlet 522 flows through the path 543 and the first hole 545, and is sucked toward center of the fan unit 53 by the suction force generated by the rotation of the blades 531 in the enclosed concaved chamber 524. The air moves the periphery of the concaved chamber 524 by the eccentric force and enters into the main-air-outlet 526 and is brought out from the base unit 1 via the escape pipe 57.

When sanding the workpiece by the sanding belt 25, the dust is blew toward the casing 26 and hits the guide member 265 to change the direction of the movement of the dust and then collected in the open top 501 of the dust collection part 50 via the bottom hole 2611 of the casing 26, the opening 41 of the rear cover 4 and the second slot 152 of the base unit 1. The dust is sucked by the air flow from the tube 502 toward the outlet 503 and enters into the air inlet 522 of the outer cover 52. The dust is sucked into the concaved chamber 524 via the first hole 545 by the suction force at the center of the fan unit 2. The dust is then sent to the periphery of the concaved chamber 524 by the eccentric force of the fan unit 53 and brought out from the base unit 1 via the escape pipe 57 via the main-air-outlet 526.

When sanding the workpiece by the sanding wheel 55, the dust is blew along the inside of the housing 56 and hits the restriction plate 562 and is guided by the guide plate 544 so that the when the dust flows to the suction opening 547 via the path 543 and the first hole 545, the suction force by the rotation of the fan unit 53 sucks the dust into the concaved chamber 524 via the first hole 545. The dust is then sent to the periphery of the concaved chamber 524 by the eccentric force of the fan unit 53 and brought out from the base unit 1 via the escape pipe 57 via the main-air-outlet 526.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A sanding machine comprising: a base unit including a base and a board mounted on an open top of the base, a space defined in the base and a frame extending upward from the board, a first slot and a second slot defined through the board and communicating with the space, an axle extending through the frame and two ends of the axle protruding from two sides of the frame; a sanding unit including first and second side panels and a top roller and a lower roller located between the first and second panels, a sanding belt trained on the top roller and the lower roller, a casing accommodating the lower roller and a part of the sanding belt, a bottom hole defined through a bottom of the casing and a guide member located beside the bottom hole, the bottom hole located in alignment with the second slot; a power unit including a motor located in the space and an active pulley which is driven by an output shaft of the motor, a passive pulley driven by the active pulley by a transmission belt trained on the active and passive pulleys, the axle extending through the passive pulley and a first end of the axle connected to the lower roller and a second end of the axle connected to a fan unit and a sanding wheel, and a dust collection device including a dust collection part, a hollow hose, an outer cover, the fan unit, a separation plate, the sanding wheel and a housing, the dust collection part located beneath the second slot of the base unit and having an open top which is located in alignment with the second slot, a tube and an outlet located in communicating with the open top of the dust collection part, the hollow hose having a first end connected to the tube; the outer cover connected to the base unit and the axle extending through an axle hole defined through the outer cover, a shoulder formed on an inside of the outer cover and an air inlet defined through the shoulder of the outer cover, the shoulder located along a periphery of a concaved chamber defined in the inside of the outer cover, a main-air-outlet, a sub-air-outlet and the axle hole located in communicating with the concaved chamber, a second end of the hollow hose connected with the sub-air-outlet in the cuter cover, an escape pipe having a first end engaged with the main-air-outlet; the fan unit including a central hole and the axle extending through the central hole, the fan unit located in the concaved chamber and the separation plate engaged with the concaved chamber, multiple blades extending radially from a side of the fan unit; the separation plate including a path, a guide plate, a first hole, a second hole and a suction opening, the path located in communication between the air inlet of the outer cover, the first and second holes and the suction opening, the guide plate located beside the suction opening and a distal end of the guide plate contacting a peripheral wall of the over cover, the air inlet of the outer cover located in communication between the outlet of the dust collection part and the path of the separation plate, and the sanding wheel mounted to the axle and located between the separation plate and the housing, the housing having a pressing plate extending from an inside thereof so as to define an exterior collection area between the housing, the outer cover and the separation plate, a part of the sanding wheel located within the exterior collection area.
 2. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear cover is connected between a top of the base unit and a lower end of the casing of the sanding unit, the rear cover includes an opening which is located in alignment with the bottom hole of the casing and the second slot of the base unit.
 3. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing includes a first part and a second part, the bottom hole is defined through the first part and the guide member is located on the first part.
 4. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer cover includes multiple connection tubes and bolts extend through the connection tubes and connects the outer cover to the base unit.
 5. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hole of the separation plate includes two tapered insides and is larger than the second hole, a distal end of the first hole is located at the air inlet.
 6. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hole of the separation plate includes two tapered insides and is larger than a cross sectional area at the conjunction between the first hole and the path, a distal end of the first hole is located at the air inlet.
 7. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hole of the separation plate includes two tapered insides and is larger than the suction opening, a distal end of the first hole is located at the air inlet.
 8. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separation plate includes a rib extending from a side thereof and being shaped corresponding to a shape of the concaved chamber, the rib, the path and the guide plate are located on different planes on the separation plate, a plurality of through holes are defined through the separation plate and bolts extend through the through holes and connect the separation plate to the shoulder of the outer cover, the rib encloses the concaved chamber.
 9. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide member has one end protruding beyond a surface of the first part.
 10. The sanding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a curved restriction plate extending from a side facing the sanding wheel. 